From freelance workers to workers with signed contracts
Mr. Nguyen Van Thoa (born in 2004, from Lac Thuy commune, Phu Tho) came to Hanoi in 2022, right after graduating from high school.
Mr. Thoa went to Hanoi to work as a waiter at a beer bar in Tu Liem ward (Hanoi) at the invitation of a relative. After 3 years as a beer bar employee, with a starting salary of 5 million VND to 8 million VND/month, Mr. Thoa has almost no savings.
Regarding the reason, Mr. Thoa said that he was given enough food and accommodation by the restaurant owner, so he took half of his monthly salary to send back to his hometown to support his parents' education, and saved the rest to make capital. At the end of 2024, Mr. Thoa suffered from dengue fever and was taken to the hospital by his colleagues for treatment. Due to no health insurance, after nearly half a month in the hospital, Mr. Thoa paid for hospital fees and medicine almost all of his savings.
"I see a crisis because after 3 years of working, I have saved a little money and after the illness I have almost no money left. I am also bored because I see that the job is hard, unstable, and there is no regime, so I am determined to find another job that is more stable and has benefits for workers, said Mr. Thoa.
After being instructed by a colleague, Mr. Thoa boldly submitted his application. Mr. Thoa was lucky to be hired by a company as a printing factory worker, with a starting salary of 6.5 million VND/month, and was fully covered by social insurance.
Like Mr. Thoa, Ms. Le Thi Tu has worked for 4 years as a hired worker at a handicraft workshop in Ha Thai craft village (Hanoi).
With a job as a food bag owner, living in a factory, with a salary of 8 million VND/month, Ms. Tu always wishes to have a stable job, sign a contract to have enough social insurance, and feel more secure when sick.
Ms. Tu participated in a job fair and was hired as a worker at a consumer goods manufacturing company in Thanh Liet ward (Hanoi).
"My starting salary is 7 million VND/month, not including overtime and shiftwork. More importantly, I am fully covered by social insurance. So from a freelancer, I feel more secure because I have become a worker with a signed contract with full benefits, Ms. Tu shared.
Go to work for a company, have enough benefits
After decades of working in the fields and gardens in Son Tay ward (Hanoi), Ms. Lai Thi Luong could not believe that one day she would be a "corporation man".
Ms. Lai Thi Luong was born in 1985. Since getting married and having children, she has only stayed at home to do gardening work, and she and her husband take care of their two children's education. In 2024, her eldest child entered university, her second child entered high school, and she decided to find a job opportunity.
"My wish is to find a company job near my home, travel conveniently and still take care of my children and gardens. After many years of not working for a company, I have not received any benefits. Seeing the women in the commune working with stable income and full participation in social insurance, I am determined to find a job," Ms. Luong shared.
Submitting her application for a job, Ms. Luong was hesitant because at the age of 40, businesses often rarely recruit. Therefore, when looking for a job, the first thing she should note is to find companies and businesses that accept recruiting female workers of her age.
After 2 months of research and application, Ms. Luong found a job that suited her qualifications, health, and conditions. I was hired as a worker at a company specializing in consumer goods production. Luckily, the company is not far from my home, the welfare policies are guaranteed, I pay social insurance in full, my starting salary is 5.5 million VND/month, not to mention extra work and benefits," Ms. Luong excitedly said.
